Federal agents have added the names of 1,000 recently hired Super Bowl workers to the list of people they are screening for immigration violations.

The scrutiny is part of security preparations for tomorrow's Super Bowl in San Diego. The INS-led initiative has included a sweep of foreign-born security guards and cabdrivers.

"In the aftermath of 9/11 our priority is to examine areas that pose the highest security threat, and take appropriate action," said Adele Fasano, director of the INS San Diego field office.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service has already arrested 69 people in the initiative the agency is calling "Operation Game Day." Although the probe was launched three months ago, the INS didn't offer a detailed accounting until yesterday.

Thirty-four of the immigrants arrested had criminal records ranging from domestic violence to robbery; 35 were working illegally in the country.

The INS scrutinized 52 other people, but cleared them after they were found to be living in the United States legally.

The agency is still searching for about 40 more transportation and security workers.

The INS received the list of Super Bowl workers yesterday from Contemporary Services Corp., which is overseeing the event's 2,500 workers as well as Super Bowl security. Immigration officials said they are almost finished running the new names through law enforcement databases that will flag illegal immigrants or foreigners convicted of crimes.

Contemporary Services began providing names to the INS two months ago, and the new list includes the names of the most recent hires. None of the security guards arrested recently worked for the company.

"You always want to do everything you can to make sure that you have quality people with good backgrounds," said Peter Kranske, Contemporary Services' vice president.

In preparation for the Super Bowl, the INS audited more than 15,000 names of security guards and taxi drivers who might have access to special events leading up to the event, secure areas around Qualcomm Stadium, the airport or military installations. Most of the security guards arrested are from Latin American countries, while many of the cab and limo drivers are from 25 countries suspected by the Justice Department of harboring or sponsoring terrorists, including Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The initiative culminated in recent weeks with agents arresting workers at their homes.

Only five have been charged in federal court with immigration violations; all are Mexicans. The others face deportation for violating immigration law. If they fight expulsion, they will get a chance to argue their cases before an immigration judge. So far, 10 of the men detained have been released on bail.

Although none of those arrested has been linked to terrorism, immigration officials said they believe the operation will make the Super Bowl safer.

But Muslim Americans, who have criticized the government's increased scrutiny of Middle Easterners since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, said they are concerned that the INS effort singles out people based on their nationality.

"We understand that being in this country is not a right – it's a privilege," said Kareem Shora, legal adviser for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee in Washington, D.C. "On the other hand, if they're only looking at the Alis and Muhammads working around the Super Bowl, we have a problem with that."

Operation Game Day prompted about 20 people to gather in front of the downtown Federal Building yesterday to protest the detention of Osman Dahir Handulle.

"He's only a cabdriver," Mahir Sherif, Handulle's attorney, said of his client. "To protect the Super Bowl, the INS is destroying the lives of working people."

Immigration officials were quick to point out that Handulle was slated for deportation because he has been convicted of domestic violence charges.

They also denied their agency has singled out Middle Easterners. About half of those arrested are Mexicans, Fasano said.

Until yesterday, officials with the INS had warned that any publicity about the sweep could jeopardize their effort. Fasano said media reports earlier this week disrupted the operation and led to fewer arrests than anticipated.

But one INS officer, who asked to remain anonymous, had told The San Diego Union-Tribune the agency might make fewer arrests because of time constraints. Although INS officials hatched the idea for an audit of the workers three months ago, the agency didn't begin running name checks until weeks later, creating a backlog, the officer said.

The INS has long been criticized for not cracking down on millions of illegal immigrants who live and work in the United States, and Fasano said the agency will continue checking employers' records for illegal workers and foreigners with criminal backgrounds.

The INS also plans to scrutinize the employers who hired the workers, she said. If companies don't follow federal law requiring them to ask for proper immigration documents they could be fined, Fasano said.

However Fasano acknowledged that the INS can examine only a limited number of workers, because the agency's resources are limited.

The INS is in the midst of a major transition as it prepares to be moved into the newly created Department of Homeland Security in March.